Ore-concentrating apparatus.



T A. JANNEY. ORE CONCENTRATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, l9l4.

Patented Oct'lO, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEE7T I.

JANNEY.

ORE cowcsmgnme APPARATUS. APPLICATION LE3 APR.23.1914.

F1 $06 ea;

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- T. A. JANNEY.

ORE CONCENTRATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23.1914.

3$HEETS-SHEET 3.

' 1,201,053. Patented 0c t.10, 1916.

Wieagew I Z71 yea/12 5 n 'i 1770mm; j /v 5 .5 W 2 MA I UNITED STATES onon.

THOMAS A. JANNEY, OF GABIFIELD, UTAH.

ORE-CONCENTRATI NG APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.latented Oct. 10,1916.

Application filed April 23, 1914. Serial No. 833,973.

tration of ores by the oil flotation process,

in which process the ore mixed with water in the form of a freelyflowing pulp is agi-.

tated with oil and other reagents, if such are necessary or beneficial,with the result that the metalliferous part of the ore is caused tofloat when the pulp is removed from the zone of agitation and permittedto assume a condition of substantial quiescence. This process can becarried out in-many different forms of apparatus, but the apparatusforming the subject-matter of my invention possesses several distinctand novel advantages, among which are the facts that the apparatus,embodying a series of agitating chambers or mixers and separation boxes,or spitz-boxes, may all be arranged upon the same level, the energy usedfor agitating the pulp serving in conjunction with gravity the purposeof moving the pulp through the series of agitation chambers andSpitz-boxes. In my improved apparatus the mixture may also be subjectedto successive periods of agitation and flotation in each unit of theseries, this being effected by moving the mixture through as many cyclesas desired in each unit before it passes to the next unit of the series.An other advantage arises from the fact that when a single agitatingchamber and separating box are used for treating a single charge, thepulp may be permitted to circulate for an indefinite period of timethrough said chamber and box without-personal attention, the floatingconcentrate being allowed to accumulate in the separating box from whichit may be removed intermittently by mechanical means or overflow, orbeing removed by overflow continuously as formed, such overflow beingeifected by a suitably regulated supply of water or pulp. Otheradvantages in simplicity of structure of the apparatus, durability, andsimplicity of operation will appear from the following description anddrawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view through anagitating chamber and separating box. Fig. 2 is an elevation partly'insection of several units connected in series, each unit consisting of anagitating chamber and separating box, the section being through theseparating box of the first unit. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structureshown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4: is a fragmentary plan view of the structureshown in Fig. 2, the agitating vessels being in section upon a planebetween the lower and upper agitators.

I will describe the mechanical construction of the apparatus principallywith reference to Figs. 1 and 3 for the reason that those figures beingin section best illustrate the interior construction. WVhile in mydescription I refer to the specific form and arrangement of. variousparts, it will be apparent that wide variations may be made in themechanical form of the apparatus without departing from the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

The agitating chamber 1 is preferably cylindrical in form with an openupper end forming a discharge outlet 2. A rotary shaft 3 extends axiallyinto the interior of the agitating chamber 1. In the form of the deviceillustrated the shaft 3 is rotated by an electric motor 5 supported uponthe top of the apparatus and the lower end of the shaft 3 extendsthrough the bottom of the vessel 1 and is provided with a bearing 6beneathfand exterior to the vessel 1, which is supported upon a suitablestandard 30. Leakagefrom the vessel 1 is prevented'by a stuffing-box 4:of any suitable form. For the purpose of protecting the packing in thestuiting-box 4 and the bearing 6 from the injurious action of any of thepulp which might leak past the stuffing-box, I provide a small opening,or duct, 7 leading throu h the wall of the stuiiing-box above the pacing therein and opening into an annular chamber 8, which communicatesthrough passage 9 with the lower part of the vessel 1.- A constantsupply of'clear water under suflicient pressure passes through the duct7 into the vessel 1, thus preventing leakage of any. pulp with itscontained ore. The

water so supplied through the passage 7 may, under some conditions ofoperation, serve the additional purpose of maintaining the pulp in theapparatus at the proper level, that is, the water so supplied may beutilized to compensate for the lowering of level that would otherwise becaused by withdrawing the floating concentrate. The bearing 6 beneaththe vessel 1 serves to hold the shaft 3 in proper alinement and toprevent vibration or whipping.

Projecting inwardly from the wall of the cylindrical vessel 1 are aplurality of battles 10 which take the form of inwardly projecting ribs.These baffles extend upwardly about midway the height of the vessel 1.Upon the shaft 3, adjacent the bottom of the vessel 1, there is securedan agitator or impeller 12, which preferably takes the form of a seriesof radiating arms, four in number, as shown in the constructionillustrated. The radial arms of the agitator 12 extend outwardly withjust sufficient clearance for safety between the ends thereof and thebaffles 10. A second agitator or impeller 13 is secured to the shaft 3just above the up per ends of the baffles 10, the radial arms of theupper impeller preferably being longer than those of the lower impellerand having just sufiicient clearance between their ends and the wall ofthe vessel 1 to afi'ord safety of operation.

Rotation of the agitators 12 and 13, in conjunction with the baflies 10,serves to impart a violent agitation to. the pulp treated in theapparatus. The lower agitator in conjunction with the bafiies imparts aviolent agitation to the pulp, thus thoroughly intermingling theingredients thereof, and also serves through centrifugal force to imparta tendency to the pulp to rise upon the walls of the vessel. The upperagitator 13 lying near the surface of the pulp imparts furtherrotarymovement to the same and centrifugal force causes the pulp to riseupon the walls of the vessel and overflow the upper edge of the same asdiagrammatically indicated by the dotted line E in Fig. 1. Of course theprecise configuration of the upper surface of the pulp will varyaccording to conditions such as the speed of agitation and rate ofsupply of pulp to the apparatus. In order to avoid the possibility ofany of the pulp being ejected from the apparatus, I preferably inclosethe upper end of the agitating chamber 1 with a hood 14 which surroundsthe upper end of the agitating chamher and extends a short distanceabove the same. The upper end of the hood 1-1 may be closed by a cover15. Adjoining the agitating chamber 1 is a separating box 16, the samepreferably taking the form of a spitzbox, or box tapering tosubstantially a point at its lower end.

The hood 14 is closed by a lower Wall 17 situated beneath the upper edgeor discharge opening 2 of the chamber 1, said wall 17 closing the bottomof the annular space between the agitating chamber and hood and forminga launder to receive the pulp. Just above the wall 17 is a dischargeduct 18 leading from the annular space 19 to the upper part of theseparating box 16. In order to keep the material in the separating box16 substantially quiet, I provide a deflector or ba'tl'le 20 extendingdownwardly from the wall of the hood 14 across the opening 18 and spacedsuiiicicntlv from the opening 18 to permit free flow of the pulp. I mayalso provide a second deflector or baffle 21 proecting upwardly acrossthe opening 18 beyond the deflector 20. These deflectors serve to arrestthe current of pulp flowing into the separating box and to convey thepulp into the separating box without causing any ma terial disturbanceof the pulp therein, thus producing a condition conducive to theformation of the floating concentrate.

At one or more edges the separating box 16 is provided with an overflowlip at substantially the same level as the bottom of the port 18. Saidlip is formed by the upper edge of a wall 22, which may be adjustablethrough a small range, taking the form of a vertically movable gateoperated by any suitable means between guides 23. The rate of flow ofpulp through the apparatus may be so regulated that the floatingmaterial flows over the upper edge of the gate 22 into the launder 24from which the same may be col lected through the discharge opening 11as a finished concentrate, or for further treat ment as the case may be.By reason of the duct 18 and discharge lip of the gate 22 being uponsubstantially the same level the agitated pulp from the agitating vesselis deposited upon the surface of the pulp in the separator box. I findthis to be a distinct advantage over apparatus in which the agitatedpulp is discharged into the separator box a considerable distancebeneath the surface of the pulp in the separator box.

The lower part of the separating box 16 is connected with the lower partof the agitation vessel 1 by means of a. passage 2:). The passage 25opens into the vessel 1 opposite or above the lower agitator 12, theeffect of this location of the opening of the passage 25 into the vessel1 being that the pulp enters the vessel 1 from the separating box 16against the outward centrifugal force imparted to the material in thevessel 1 by the agitator 12. That is. the flow of pulp from theseparating box 16 into the vessel 1 is retarded, but not prevented, bythe agitator 12. For the purpose of regulating the flow of pulp from thelower part of the separating box into the vessel 1 the passage 25 isprovided with a regulating valve 26, which may be of any suitable form,such as a plug 1,201 ,oee

valve. Pulp is supplied to the apparatus 29 from the separating orspitz-boxes 16,

communicate with the inlet ports27, which communicate with the nextadjacent agitating vessel. When the "apparatus is used as a single unit,either for experimental or practical operations, the inlet port 27 ofthe agitating vessel 1 is closed after the apparatus is charged with theproper amount of pulp and other ingredients, and the out let port 29leading from the Spitz-box 16 is also closed until it is desired todischarge the residues or tailings. When operated as a single unit theport 29 is first closed and a suitable amount of pulp w'ith the othernecessary ingredients is charged into the apparatus through the port 27,or, if con venient, simply through the open top of the separ ting box,or in any other convenient manner.

In operating upon a single charge, as above stated, it will beunderstood that both of the ports 27 and 29 are closed and the port 25is opened to a suitable extent through manipulation of the valve 26. The charge of pulp supplied to the apparatus is insufficient to fill thesame andpreferably the level of the pulp before agitation is started isconsiderably below the upper edge of the chamber 1. The rotation of theagitators 12 and 13 imparts a violent agitation to the mixture of ore,pulp and oil, thus dissemi hating the oil and causing efiicient contactthereof with the inetalliferous mineral parchamber 1 and discharges thesame over the top edge, 2, thereof, as hereinbefore explained. The pulpso forced upwardly out of the agitating chamberfalls in the annularspace 19 betweenthe'upper end of the agitating chamberandthe"surrounding hood and by gravity flowsthrough the duct 18 into theseparating box 16, the pulp at the same time flowing'from. the bottom ofthe separating box 16 into the lower part of the agitating chamber 1 byreason of the higher head of water established'in the separating-- box16 due to the discharge of pulp therein through the duct 18.- Acontinuous current of pulp mixture upward through. the agitat ingchamber land downward through the separating box 16 is thereby caused.

The operation as described; is to cause the "oiled metalliferous part ofthe ore to float upon the surface of the pulp in the separating box, thesurface of which is sub of pulp through the apparatus.

st-antially quiet. If desired the level of the .pulp in theseparating'box 16-may be'so maintained thatthe floating concentrate asformed'will float over the. upper edge of the gate 22 into thelaunder24. Such regulation of the level of the pulp may be effected in variousways, as by the inflow of water through the passage 17 at the lower endof the agitating vessel.v If desired the surface of the pulp in theseparating box 16 may be maintained at a point below the upper edge ofthe gdte 2i and-the froth asformed maybe removed mechanical means suchas skimn' ing. U a

In the operation of the apparatusas a single unit, as above described,the pulp is thoroughly agitated, together with the ma? terials addedthereto, and is impelled upward through the agitating vessel 1. whenceit flows through the port 18 into the separating box 16, downwardthrough the separating box and back to the agitating vessel 1 throughthe port 25. The pulp thus moves through a continuous cycle comprisingalternate periods of agitation and quiescence. During the period ofquiescence the concern trate which has been sufficiently treated floatsupon the surface of the pulp inthe separating box 16,'-while the,remainder of the pulp continuesjto circulate through the agitatingvessel and spitz-box.- Asthe pulp so circulates floating concentrategradually separates therefrom upon the surface of the pulpin theseparating box;until the material treated is practically exhausted ofits valuable content. I have. found that in the operation oftheapparatus the continuous circulation of the pulp through the separatingbox and agitatingvess'el takes place without materialinterference withthe ilotzntion of the concentrate and that the amount of fioatlngconcentrate, upon the surface of the pulp in the spitz-box graduallyincreases.

A considerable amount of concentrate inav be allowed to so accumulateupon the surface of the pulp in the Spitz-box before it is necessary towithdraw the same. In operation. however, I find it preferable tovremove the float from the surface of the pulp in the 'spitz-box' atintervals or .contlnuously and before too great a volume of float hasbeen built up. As above indicated the removal of the float may be eitherintermittent and effected by overflow or mechanical means. .or theremoval of thcfioat may be effected by maintaining. a suitable supply ofwater through the port 7, clear water being supplied whenit is desiredto treat a definite amount of ore. i

A single unit of the apparatus, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, orseveral units connectedin series, as shown in Fig.2, maybe used for thetreatment of a continuous flow I will first refer to the use of a singleunit of the appalOO ratus in operating continuously upon pulp Howmgtherethrough. When a single unit of the apparatus is used for continuoustreatment of ore pulp, as distinguished. from a treatment of a singlecharge, the pulp is supplied to the mixing vessel 1 through the port 27,which need not be located precisely as shown in the drawings, but ispreferably located somewhere adjacent the bottom of the mixing vessel.Theport 25 is left open adjustment of the duct through the port, inecessary, being made by means of the valve 26. The pulp carrying withit oil and such other ingredients as necessary for the iotation of pulpflowing in through the port 27 is subjected to violent agitation and toan upward force due to the rotation of the agitator 12 and furtheragitation and up ward impulse is given to the pulp by the rotation ofthe upper agitator 13. The up ward impulse so imparted to the pulpcarries the same over the upper edge of the agitation vessel 1 and intothe launder 19 and through the port 18 to the separating box 16 as abovedescribed. The surface of the pulp in the separating box 16 beingsubstantially quiet the concentrate floats thereon as soon as thematerial has received sullicient treatment to produce that ellect. Asthe rateof discharge through the port 29 is substantially constant, andas the agitator-impeller moves the pulp from the agitation vessel to theseparator box at a more rapid rate, the excess pulp so moved to theseparator box will return to the agitation vessel through the port 25,and will continue to move through the local circuit or cycle com prisingthe agitation vessel, separator box and connecting ports until finallydischarged through port 29. By suitable adjustment of the valves andspeed of the agitator-impeller the amount of pulp which is moved throughthis local circuit and the number of cycles of movement imparted to itmay be regulated. For instance, if the port 29 be considerablyrestricted and the port 25 be opened to a relatively large extent, aportion of the pulp will circulate through the circuit formed by theagitation vessel, the port 18, the settling box 16, and the passage 25,a considerable number of times before being discharged through the port29, the amount of such circulation imparted to the pulp. depending asabove stated, upon the degree to which the ports 29 and 25 are openedand will also be in fiuenced by the speed of the agitator. Dun ing theoperation of the apparatus as de scribed the concentrate will gather asa float upon the surface of the pulp in the settling box 16 and may beremoved continuously by regulating the feed through the port 27 in suchmanner that the floating material will pass over the upper edge of thegate 22 into the concentrate launder 2 L. @r the float may be removedintermittently or continuously by mechanical. means, such as a skimmer,or by successive intermittent adjustments of the pulp level.

In the use of mechanism, such as heretoiore employed in-the flotationprocess, the pulp passes through. each agitating vessel but once andsuccessive treatments of the pulp are obtained only by increasing thenumber of agitating vessels. In my improved apparatus if the workingcapacity of the apparatus is 500 gallons and 100 gallons per minute areconstantly fed through the inlet port 27 and a corresponding amount perminute constantly discharged through the Waste port 29, in conjunctionwith. that taken off as concentrate in the concentrate launder 24, therewill constantly be in circulation in the apparatus 500 gallons of pulp.Owing to the fact that the agitators impel the pulp at a rate muchgreater than 100 gallons per minute, a portion of the pulp willcirculate through the agitating vessel 1 and separating box 16 manytimes before it is discharged through the port 29. In other words, theagitators impel the liquid from the agitating vessel into the spitz-boxat a more rapid rate than the pulp can be discharged through the Wasteport 29, and the result is that the material not discharged through theWaste port 29 again enters the agitation vessel 1, through the port 25to again pass through the same circuit until finally withdrawn through.the port 29 as Waste or into the launder 24: as concentrate. While thehow of pulp from the separating box 16 through the port 25 into theagitation vessel 1 is somewhat resisted by the outward centrifugal forceset up by the lower agitator 12, the head of pulp in the separating box16 when the pulp has risensuiilciently therein will overcome suchresistance and cause the flow of pulp back into the agitation vessel inthe course of its circulation through the circuit above described.

When a plurality of units, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, are used inseries the several units are coni'iected as shown in Fig. 2, the outletport 29 of the separating box of the first unit of the series beingconnected to the inlet port 27 of the agitation vessel of the next unitof the series, the valve 28 serving to control the flow of pulp from oneunit to the next. W hen so used in series the pulp is treated in eachunit of the apparatus as heretofore described in connection with thesingle unit shown in Fig. 1, the pulp not only passing through theentire series of units, but being subjected to localcirculation in eachunit as above described in connection with the apparatus shown inFig. 1. The extent of local circulation to which the pulp is subjectedin each unit of the series is determined as above described. In myimproved apparatus when so used in series the pulp instead of beingconveyed directly through the several units of the series, as inapparatus heretofore used, is caused to circulate many times througheach unit before passing to the next unit of the series, and during suchrepeated local circulation is subjected to repeated perio ds ofagitationand quiescence for the formation of floating concentrate.

Itwill be apparent that agitating mechanism different from that hereinillustrated and described maybe used for agitating the pulp and'causingthe circulation described above, and that many ofthe details ofconstruction maybe altered without departing from the principle of myinvention.

I. claim:

1. In a concentrating apparatus, an agitation vessel and separating boxcommunicating with each other through upper and lower ports, andagitating and impelling means in said vessel for agitating an ore pulptherein and adapted to move all of said pulp from said vessel into saidbox and to move the pulp in a circuit through one of said ports to saidbox and back through the other port to said vessel, said box having anoverflow lip below the level of said upper port.

2. In a device of the class described, an agitation vessel andseparating box having communication with each other through ports at theupper and lower parts thereof, and means for imparting agitation to anore pulp contained in said vessel and for moving all of said pulp fromsaid vessel through said upper port into said box and for causing pulpto'circulate repeatedly through said vessel and box, said box having anoverflow lip below the level of said upper port.

3.Ina device of the class described, an agitation vessel, means thereinfor agitating and impelling upwardly an ore pulp, a separating box, anupper duct connecting said vessel and box, said agitating and impellingmeans being adapted to move all of said pulp from said vessel to saidbox through said upper duct, and a second duct for conducting pulp backto said vessel from said box, said box having an overflow lip below thelevel of said upper port.

4. In a concentrating apparatus, a mixing vessel and a separator boxhaving communication ports at points adjacent the top and bottomthereof, and a rotary agitator in said vessel adapted by centrifugalforce to elevate all of the ore pulp contained therein and thereby tocause said pulp to flow into said separator box through the upper port,

discharging the same therefronnand ineans for agitatingsaid pulp and formoving all of said pulp from said agitation vessel to 7 said separatorbox at a more rapid rate than cation ports tlierebetweenat pointsadjacent the top and bottom thereof,-said vessel having an ore pulp feed'port' and said box a tailings discharge port, and a rotary agitatorinsaid vessel adapted to elevate all of the ore pulp supplied theretoand to discharge the same into said box at a more rapid rate than saidpulp can'be discharged through said discharge port, thereby causing partof said pulp to circulate repeatedly throughsaid vessel and box, saidbox having an overflow li'p'below the level of said upper port.

7. In a flotation concentrating apparatus, an agitation vessel having aninlet port for ore pulp, a rotary agitator in said vessel, and aseparator box having a discharge lip over which floating concentrate mayflow, said vessel and box being connected by aduct above said dischargelip at the upper part of said vessel and opening into said box atsubstantially the same level as said discharge lip, said agitator beingadapted to raise all of the ore pulp supplied to said vessel and todischarge the same through said duct upon the surface of the ore pulp insaid box.

8. In a device of the class described, a series of units each comprisingan agitation vessel and separating box, the vessel and box of each unithaving communication with each other through ports at the upper andlower parts thereof and the box of each unit having communicationwiththe vessel of the next succeeding unit, the first agitation vessel ofthe series having an inlet port for-ore pulp, and means for impartingagitation to the ore pulp in said vessels and for moving all of the orepulp supplied to each vessel to the communicating box and causing acirculation of pulp through the vessel and box of each unit of theseries.

9. In a device of the class described, an agitating vessel having anopen upper end, a rotary agitator therein, a launder surrounding theupper end of said vessel to receive ore pulp discharged therefrom, aseparator box communicating with said launder, and having an overflowlip below the upper end of said vessel, a duct connecting said box andvessel at a point below said launder, said agitator being adapted toelevate all of the pulp supplied to said vessel and to discharge thesame into said box.

10. In a device of the class described, an agitation vessel, having anopening adjacent its upper end, a separating box having an overflow lipbelow the level of said opening, a rotary agitator adjacent the bottomof said vessel, and a second rotary agitator above said first namedagitator, said second agitator being adapted to operate adjacent thesurface of an ore pulp contained in said vessel, said rotary agitatorsbeing adapted to elevate all of the ore pulp supplied to said vessel andto discharge t e same into said box.

11. In a concentrating apparatus, an agitation vessel andseparating boxhaving communication with each other at the upper and lower partsthereof, a rotary agitator adjabox, said separating box having anoverflow lip below the level of theupper communication between saidvessel and box.

for impelling all of said ore pulp upwardly through said dischargeopening to said box,

said box being conne'ctedwith said vessel by 3 a duct leading from thelower part of said box to said vessel.

13. In a device for treating ore pulp, an agitation vessel andseparating box, means for admitting ore pulp to said vessel, :1 wallbetween said vessel and box, means for main taining the level of thepulp in said box be low the upper edge of said wall, means for impellingall of the pulp supplied to said vessel upwardly and over said wall intosaid box, and a duct leading from the lower part of said box to saidvessel.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

THOMAS A. JANNEY.

